Anak emas
Golden child
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Anak emas describes a person, often a child or employee, who is treated with special favor or preference by someone in authority.
- Means: A person who is clearly the favorite in a group.
- Used in: Family discussions, office gossip, or describing teacher-student dynamics.
- Don't confuse: It's not about literal gold or wealth, but about emotional or professional value.
Explanation at your level:
معنی
A favorite person or child
زمینه فرهنگی
Favoritism is often linked to 'Koneksi' (connections). Being an 'anak emas' is sometimes more about who you know than what you can do. In Javanese families, the 'anak ragil' (youngest child) is frequently the 'anak emas' because they are seen as the baby of the family who needs the most protection. The 'anak emas' in a company often acts as a bridge between the boss and other employees, but this can lead to resentment and 'toxic' work environments. Teachers are often warned against having an 'anak emas' to maintain 'keadilan' (justice) in the classroom, reflecting national values of fairness.
Use it for sarcasm
You can use 'anak emas' sarcastically to point out when someone is getting away with something they shouldn't.
Don't use it for yourself
Calling yourself an 'anak emas' can make you sound arrogant or admit that you are getting unfair help.
معنی
A favorite person or child
Use it for sarcasm
You can use 'anak emas' sarcastically to point out when someone is getting away with something they shouldn't.
Don't use it for yourself
Calling yourself an 'anak emas' can make you sound arrogant or admit that you are getting unfair help.
The 'Anak Bawang' contrast
Remember that 'Anak Bawang' is the opposite in terms of importance, while 'Anak Tiri' is the opposite in terms of affection.
Verb form
Use 'menganakemaskan' if you want to sound more advanced when describing a boss's behavior.
خودت رو بسنج
Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.
Budi selalu mendapat pujian dari bos, dia memang _______ bos.
The standard idiom for a favorite is 'anak emas' (golden child).
Which situation best describes an 'anak emas'?
Pilih situasi yang tepat:
This describes favoritism, which is the core meaning of 'anak emas'.
Complete the dialogue.
Siska: 'Kenapa kamu kesal?' | Rani: 'Aku benci melihat Tono. Dia selalu dibela meskipun salah. Dia benar-benar _______ di sini.'
The context of being defended even when wrong points to being a favorite.
Match the idiom to the relationship.
Match 'Anak Emas' with the most likely person providing the favor.
An 'anak emas' needs a superior (like a boss, parent, or teacher) to grant the favor.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Anak Emas vs. Anak Tiri
سوالات متداول
12 سوالNo, it can be an adult, an employee, or even a favorite pet. It refers to the relationship, not the age.
It depends. To the person, it might be. To others, it usually implies unfairness or jealousy.
No, that is not a recognized idiom in Indonesian. Stick to 'anak emas'.
It's better for casual office talk. In a formal meeting, use 'staf khusus' or 'karyawan andalan'.
The closest equivalents are 'Golden Boy', 'Teacher's Pet', or 'Fair-haired boy'.
Use the verb 'menganakemaskan'. For example: 'Dia menganakemaskan adiknya.'
Usually no. It is almost always used for people or living things like pets.
It can be insulting to the person's merit, as it suggests they are only successful because of favoritism.
No, it is a common noun phrase, not a proper noun.
Yes, it is a standard Indonesian idiom understood from Sumatra to Papua.
Yes, though usually, the idiom implies one singular favorite.
Even if earned, people might still use 'anak emas' cynically. If you want to be purely positive, use 'anak berprestasi'.
عبارات مرتبط
Anak tiri
contrastStepchild / Someone who is neglected
Anak kesayangan
synonymBeloved child
Pilih kasih
builds onFavoritism
Tangan kanan
similarRight-hand man
Anak buah
relatedSubordinate/Staff
کجا استفاده کنیم
At the Office
Andi: Kenapa Budi selalu pulang cepat?
Sari: Dia kan anak emas bos. Tidak ada yang berani marah.
Family Dinner
Kakak: Bu, kenapa adik boleh main game terus?
Ibu: Bukan begitu, dia sudah selesai belajar.
Kakak: Halah, dasar anak emas!
School Corridor
Rina: Nilai matematika kamu bagus sekali!
Tono: Iya, tapi orang-orang bilang aku anak emas Pak Guru.
Sports Practice
Pemain 1: Kenapa dia jadi kapten lagi?
Pemain 2: Dia anak emas pelatih, kita tidak bisa apa-apa.
Job Interview (Internal)
HR: Bagaimana pendapat Anda tentang transparansi di sini?
Karyawan: Saya harap tidak ada lagi sistem anak emas dalam promosi.
Social Media Comment
Netizen: Artis ini selalu menang award, anak emas stasiun TV ya?
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a child wearing a heavy gold crown—they are the 'Anak Emas' who gets all the attention and 'gold' from the boss.
Visual Association
Imagine a classroom where all students are in grey, but one student is literally glowing bright gold. The teacher is only looking at the glowing student.
Rhyme
Anak emas, jangan cemas, semua tugas pasti tuntas (Golden child, don't worry, all tasks will surely be finished).
Story
Once there was a king who had three sons. Two sons worked hard in the fields, but the third son stayed in the palace eating grapes. The king called the third son his 'Anak Emas' because he loved him most, even though he did the least work. Now, whenever we see someone getting special treatment, we remember the king's lazy but loved son.
Word Web
چالش
Try to identify one 'anak emas' in a TV show you are watching and explain why they have that title in Indonesian.
In Other Languages
El ojito derecho
Spanish uses a body part, Indonesian uses a precious metal.
Le chouchou
French is more cute/affectionate; Indonesian can be more cynical.
Der Goldjunge
German is gendered (boy), Indonesian is neutral (child).
お気に入り (Okiniiri)
Japanese is literal; Indonesian is metaphorical.
إبن الغالي (Ibn al-ghali)
Focuses on 'dearness' rather than 'gold' specifically.
宠儿 (Chǒng'ér)
Often used in broader contexts like 'darling of the media'.
금지옥엽 (Geum-ji-ok-yeop)
Much more formal and literary than the common 'anak emas'.
O queridinho
Uses affection (dear) rather than value (gold).
Easily Confused
Learners might think other metals work too.
Only 'gold' (emas) is used for this idiom. There is no 'silver child' or 'bronze child' in Indonesian.
Both use 'Anak' and describe a status in a group.
Anak bawang (onion child) means someone who is 'extra' or doesn't count in a game (like a small child playing with adults). Anak emas is the most important/favored one.
سوالات متداول (12)
No, it can be an adult, an employee, or even a favorite pet. It refers to the relationship, not the age.
It depends. To the person, it might be. To others, it usually implies unfairness or jealousy.
No, that is not a recognized idiom in Indonesian. Stick to 'anak emas'.
It's better for casual office talk. In a formal meeting, use 'staf khusus' or 'karyawan andalan'.
The closest equivalents are 'Golden Boy', 'Teacher's Pet', or 'Fair-haired boy'.
Use the verb 'menganakemaskan'. For example: 'Dia menganakemaskan adiknya.'
Usually no. It is almost always used for people or living things like pets.
It can be insulting to the person's merit, as it suggests they are only successful because of favoritism.
No, it is a common noun phrase, not a proper noun.
Yes, it is a standard Indonesian idiom understood from Sumatra to Papua.
Yes, though usually, the idiom implies one singular favorite.
Even if earned, people might still use 'anak emas' cynically. If you want to be purely positive, use 'anak berprestasi'.
